Межзвёздный скиталец

           This,too,Iknew:thatIcarriedmylady’sheartwithmethisnight,andthatthisnight,becauseofme,therewouldbeoneItalianlessintheworld.IsayIknewit.Inmymindtheissuecouldnotbeindoubt.AndasourrapiersplayedIponderedthemannerIshouldkillhim.Iwasnotmindedforalongcontest.Quickandbrillianthadalwaysbeenmyway.Andfurther,whatofmypastgaymonthsofcarousalandofsinging“Singcucu,singcucu,singcucu,”atungodlyhours,IknewIwasnotconditionedforalongcontest.Quickandbrilliantwasmydecision.

           ButquickandbrilliantwasadifficultmatterwithsoconsummateaswordsmanasFortiniopposedtome.Besides,asluckwouldhaveit,Fortini,alwaysthecoldone,alwaysthetireless-wristed,alwayssureandlong,asreporthadit,ingoingaboutsuchbusiness,onthisnightelected,too,thequickandbrilliant.

           Itwasnervous,tinglingwork,forassurelyasIsensedhisintentionofbriefness,justassurelyhadhesensedmine.IdoubtthatIcouldhavedonethetrickhaditbeenbroaddayinsteadofmoonlight.Thedimlightaidedme.AlsowasIaidedbydivining,themomentinadvance,whathehadinmind.Itwasthetimeattack,acommonbutperiloustrickthateverynoviceknows,thathaslaidonhisbackmanyagoodmanwhoattemptedit,andthatissofraughtwithdangertotheperpetratorthatswordsmenarenotenamouredofit.